On Earth Day and Every Day: One Planet, One Mission

The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970. Some 20 million Americans – some 10 percent of the U.S. population at the time – took to the streets. Four years ago, on the 50th Earth Day, more than a billion people around the world participated in some form of action.

In an era when it feels like a struggle to agree even on the simplest things, this is a clear sign of hope. As a global community, we believe that change is possible.

At Applegate, we have always believed that change is not only possible, but our job. Our founder Stephen McDonnell was, famously, a conflicted vegetarian: He loved meat. But he only wanted to eat it if the animals had been raised with care, and without unnecessary antibiotics. In 1987, Steve launched Applegate with one goal: Changing The Meat We Eat.®

We have made enormous progress. Annual sales for all meat raised with no antibiotics ever is now worth $2 billion. Clean ingredients are table stakes for many food companies. New, stringent animal welfare laws are in effect across the U.S. These are real victories.

But for many, eating meat is still … complicated. Raising animals for food has an undeniable impact on the planet.

And so, just as we have always done, Applegate is pioneering new ways to keep meat on the plate. This time, our focus is on holistic grazing practices that are designed, not only to do no harm, but to actually help to heal our landscapes. Last month, we announced that by the end of 2025, our goal is to source all the beef for our hot dogs from certified regenerative ranches. The project is expected to contribute to the regeneration of 6 million acres of grasslands, which could help to enrich the soil, boost biodiversity and sequester carbon.

It is a giant leap. But vision, and the courage to implement that vision, is what this moment demands. On this 54th Earth Day, I invite you to learn more about our plans and about the promise of holistic grazing. And I invite you to join the billion-strong movement to build a better food system.